The FTSEurofirst 300 Index closed provisionally 0.2 percent lower at 1,263.0, with European shares pushed down by investors taking profit, although they continued to hover around five-year highs. The U.K. FTSE closed down 0.4 percent, the German Dax closed down 0.2 percent and the French Cac closed up 0.1 percent.

Bullard emphasized in an interview with Bloomberg the role that economic data has played, and will continue to play in Fed decisions

"This was a close decision here in September," he told the network.

Europe stocks started the day in negative territory, bringing an end to the broad rally which started after the Federal Reserve surprised markets by opting to maintain its $85 billion-per-month asset purchases. However, Bullard's comments on Friday backed up the belief that the Fed still plans to taper soon.

In Asia, Indian equities led the region lower on the final trading day of the week, after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) unexpectedly raised interest rates. India's Sensexindex closed down 1.8 percent, Japan's Nikkei index ended just below the flatline and Australia's S&P ASX 200 fell off the previous day's five-year high.

Elsewhere, die-hard Apple fans in Asia and Europe lined up outside stores for the launch of the tech firm's latest handsets. At the biggest Apple store in Asia, in Beijing, several security guards kept the line in order to avoid a repeat of the egg-throwing that marred a previous launch. Demand for the iPhone 5S in gold was keen, with the 5C seeing little interest. Shares of Apple climbed during the day.